In 2025, the Brussels Airport Fund awards support to 13 sustainable projects in the local area

For the second consecutive year, the Brussels Airport Fund, managed by the King Baudouin Foundation, awards support to sustainable and social projects in the wider airport region. An independent jury selected 13 projects from 41 submissions, focusing on their positive impact on nature, the environment, energy, and mobility. The selected organisations will each receive project support ranging from €1,000 to €10,000. With its Fund, Brussels Airport wants to give a financial boost to communities that contribute to a sustainable future.

This year too, the Brussels Airport Fund will support sustainable projects in the local communities around the airport. The Fund was established in 2023, in collaboration with the King Baudouin Foundation, to offer financial support for social and environmental projects. All local organisations with a sustainable project are eligible, including non-profit organisations, youth groups, and schools. Submitted initiatives that foster connections between residents and their surroundings are evaluated based on their positive impact on the environment, nature, energy, and mobility. A well-defined financial plan of action and a clear long-term vision are also key factors in securing financial support.

€114,000 project support for 13 organisations in 2025

Following the second call for proposals, a total of 41 submissions were received. From these, an independent jury selected 13 organisations that will receive project support ranging from €1,000 to €10,000 this year. A total of €114,000 will be allocated to the various organisations.

The selected applications for support include several projects dedicated to bringing residents together. For example, a section of the concrete playground at Brussels Nieuwland Primary School will be transformed into a green oasis, with a strong focus on biodiversity. This community playground will double as a gathering spot for young families in the neighbourhood. De Plek in Sint-Pieters-Woluwe will also create a 3,000-square-metre inclusive meeting space, featuring a greenhouse, orchard, and chicken coop, to bring local residents together.

In addition, several initiatives are specifically focused on nature and the environment. The Passiewijk in Melsbroek will transform the local overgrown recreational forest into an accessible and adventurous green space for young people. The 'Wat(er) is' project in Grimbergen aims to raise awareness about water consumption through collaborations with schools, businesses, and others. In Kortenberg, the Visitor Centre Groene Vallei will develop a natural play area in the Silsombos forest using sustainable materials, aiming to inspire children to explore nature.

Repair Café d'Evere, in turn, promotes circularity by encouraging the repair of broken items rather than discarding them and buying new ones. The organisation 'Du Haut de mon Potager' in Sint-Pieters-Woluwe also contributes to this effort by creating a bicycle repair workshop where unaccompanied underage newcomers are taught to fix their bikes on their own.

Several projects focus on promoting sustainable mobility through cycling. The Leuven-based non-profit organisation VELO, in collaboration with the Machelen municipality, will organise cycling classes for adults to address transport poverty. Meanwhile, the Museum for Old Techniques (MOT) in Grimbergen will receive financial support to construct a sustainable bicycle shed using locally sourced wood.

Finally, the Molen van Rotselaar stands out as a remarkable initiative within the energy domain. The building, which also serves a communal function, will be modified to be heated using aquathermy. This involves extracting energy and heat from the Dyle River through a heat exchanger and heat pumps, rather than using natural gas for heating. Thanks to the support of the Brussels Airport Fund, the non-profit organisation will install the necessary wall insulation and wall heating in the building.

In May 2025, the Brussels Airport Fund will launch a new call for proposals for support in 2026.